Page 66 of The Leader

Jazzy felt sick, looking at the reporter’s head, with a hole in the middle.

Kristoff then turned to her.

“Now, what to do with you?”

She wasn’t sure if it was the drugs finally kicking in, or the fear, but suddenly, everything went dark.

CHAPTER 31

GIO

Gio handed Kristoff a glass of his best scotch, while he waited for his wife to wake up.

The Siberian had installed himself in the comfortable leather chair before a bookcase, facing the window. Kristoff never had his back to any door or window. Not even when he was sitting in a library, in a house that was surrounded by high gates and around-the-clock guards. Kristoff’s men were waiting for him downstairs. Probably playing poker, as Gio and Kristoff did once a month. No matter how much money they had now, they still played with one-dollar bills, to reminisce the old days, when they were both starting their business in San Francisco’s worst neighborhood, trying to make a buck. Kristoff and the Dettas had each other’s back. Even though their lives had gone into different directions, that had never changed.

Kristoff downed his drink in no time. “I like this scotch.”

“I’ll have a case delivered to you.”

“You should come try the new vodka I have imported from St. Petersburg. Smooth as a stripper pole, and with a killer burn. One bottle, and it will have you swaying on your feet.” Then he gave him a smug smile. “We are even now.”

Gio knew what moment he referenced. A decade ago, Gio had taken down a man that was about to stab Kristoff in the back. Literally.

“You sound all too damn happy about it.”

“Owing you my life...irked me.”

Gio smirked. “And the package?”

“At your disposal, in a silo near the docks. I put him in a nice cage for you. You can put his legs in concrete, add a few cuts, and he is shark’s bait.”

Kristoff was known for the colorful ways he disposed of bodies. Not that the bodies in question were ever found. He was too smart for that. But Gio had heard the rumors.

“Your generosity knows no bounds.”

“I know. I’ve ordered Damon to put that on my tombstone.”

“A few more good deeds like this and before you know, you’ll go completely legit,” Gio said, as he tried to hold in his smile.

Kristoff scoffed. “What, and turn my back on the Dark Side? I’ll leave that to the Dettas.”

Since he lingered, something Kristoff wasn’t prone to do, Gio knew the man had another thing on his mind. “You want something.”

“I want your woman to take Katya on one of her girls’ nights. You know the one I mean. Where they wear flimsy dresses, drink too much alcohol, and talk about flower power and shit.”

“Flower power and shit?”

“She’s turning twenty-one in a month. We’ve had an argument about how she’s never even had a drink. Then she quoted some shit about women empowerment and called me dominant and controlling. I’ve killed men for saying less.”

“Youaredominant and controlling,” Gio pointed out.

Kristoff raised a brow, as if saying, “Pot, meet kettle.”

Gio raised a glass at that. “I’ll take care of it.” Taking Kristoff’s protégé on a night in town could turn lethal if anyone gave the girl any shit. He’d have to up their security detail.

They discussed a few more details in their joint venture at Pacific Heights until they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Thea’s head peeked through the door opening.

“She’s awake, Gio.”

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